Committee on Housing and Real Estate - 2026-01-14
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Committee on Housing and Real Estate approved multiple land sales for affordable housing development through the Missing Middle Infill Initiative, including 12 units at 5145-5508 West 81st Street in Chatham (6th Ward), 12 units at 8021-8025 East 80th Street in South Chicago (7th Ward), and 57 units across three clusters in Morgan Park (21st Ward). The committee also approved land transfers for community open space projects including the Emmett Till Museum Garden at 6421 South Saint Lawrence and a community plaza for Blocks Together at 3713-3717 West Chicago Avenue, plus a $135 million ComEd electrical substation at 2503-2563 West Lake Street.
Key Decisions (9)
Columbia Yacht Club Parking Lot Right of Entry Extension
Extended right of entry agreement with Columbia Yacht Club for use of city-owned parking lot under DuSable Lakeshore Drive north of Randolph Street. 8,160 square feet utilized by yacht club, remainder used by Chicago Fire Department. Annual use fee of $26,683.56.
Missing Middle Land Sale - 5145-5508 West 81st Street (Cluster B)
Sale of four city-owned parcels to Semion Manor One LLC for construction of four three-story, three-flat buildings totaling 12 dwelling units in Chatham (6th Ward). Developer Donnie Brown. Market value $24,155 written down to $4 total. Total investment $3.8 million with $1.8 million HED bond.
Missing Middle Land Sale - 8021-8025 East 80th Street (Cluster F)
Sale of five city-owned parcels to NHS Millhouse Partners Joint Venture LLC for six two-flat buildings totaling 12 dwelling units in South Chicago (7th Ward). Market value $39,988.70 written down to $5 total. Total project cost $4.7 million with $1.8 million HED bond.
Missing Middle Land Sale - 109th Place (Cluster I)
Sale of six city-owned parcels at 1429-1320 West 109th Place to Superior Source Capital LLC for six three-flat buildings totaling 18 dwelling units in Morgan Park (21st Ward). Market value $55,689.36 written down to $6 total. Total project cost $6.7 million with $2.7 million HED bond.
Missing Middle Land Sale - 109th/110th/111th (Cluster J)
Sale of six city-owned parcels to Famore LLC for six four-flat buildings totaling 24 dwelling units in Morgan Park (21st Ward). Market value $59,452.62 written down to $6 total. Total project cost $8.8 million with $3.6 million HED bond.
Missing Middle Land Sale - 110th Place (Cluster K)
Sale of five city-owned parcels at 1235-1211 West 110th Place to Vasquez Housing Development LLC for five three-flat buildings totaling 15 dwelling units in Morgan Park (21st Ward). Market value $58,224.42 written down to $5 total. Total project cost $6.7 million with $2.25 million HED bond.
Till House Museum Garden Land Sale
Sale of city-owned lot at 6421 South Saint Lawrence Avenue to Blacks in Green Big NFP for open space adjacent to Emmett Till Mamie Till House Museum in Woodlawn (20th Ward). 25x125 foot lot sold at 10% of market value ($12.23). Phase one includes lawn and rain garden ($90,000), phase two includes Richard Hunt sculpture.
Blocks Together Community Plaza Land Sale
Sale of two city-owned lots at 3713-3717 West Chicago Avenue to Blocks Together NFP for community plaza in West Humboldt Park (27th Ward). Approximately 8,700 square feet sold at 10% of market value ($7,012). Phase one budget $128,000 for asphalt plaza, play area, solar lighting, seating, landscaping, and fencing.
ComEd Electrical Substation Land Sale
Sale of 38 city-owned lots at 2503-2563 West Lake Street and 2522-2568 West Maple Avenue to Commonwealth Edison Company for new electrical substation in Near West Side (27th Ward). 2.6 acres sold at market value of $2,051,784. Total investment approximately $135 million including two equipment enclosures (41,000 sq ft total footprint), 45 feet height.
Development Activity (11)
Semion Manor Cluster B
Four three-story three-flat buildings, 12 dwelling units total, three bedroom two bathroom units, ground floor accessible units, $3.8 million total investment
NHS Millhouse Cluster F
Six two-flat buildings, 12 dwelling units total, ground floor rental with owner-occupied upper floors, $4.7 million total project cost
Superior Source Cluster I
Six three-flat buildings, 18 dwelling units total, $376,000 per unit construction cost, $6.7 million total project cost
Famore Cluster J
Six four-flat buildings, 24 dwelling units total, two accessible ground floor units per building, $8.8 million total project cost
Vasquez Cluster K
Five three-flat buildings, 15 dwelling units total, $6.7 million total project cost
Emmett Till Museum Garden
Open space arrival garden for Till House Museum, lawn, rain garden, Richard Hunt sculpture in phase two, $90,000 phase one budget
Blocks Together Community Plaza
Community plaza with asphalt surface, play area, solar lighting, seating, picnic tables, benches, landscaping, fence and gate, $128,000 phase one budget
ComEd Near West Side Substation
Electrical substation with two equipment enclosures totaling 41,000 sq ft footprint, 45 feet height, 12-foot brick walls along Maypole and Lake Street, 24-foot brick wall security measure, $135 million total investment
Prairie District Apartments
150 units permanent supportive housing, construction beginning 2026
Bell Ray Community Expansion
Expansion of existing permanent supportive housing community
Leland Apartments Preservation
107 units permanent supportive housing preservation through acquisition
Market Signals (6)
Housing Demand
Over 70% of survey respondents (approximately 1,900 people) approved that the city should build more affordable housing, contradicting narrative that residents oppose affordable housing in their communities.
Housing Demand
More than half of Chicago renters are rent burdened (spending over 30% of income on housing), with highest rates in historically disinvested South and West Side communities.
Infrastructure
ComEd investing $135 million in new electrical substation to address rising electricity demand driven by Illinois Medical District redevelopment and Near West Side corridor growth, indicating significant commercial development activity.
Commercial Demand
Businesses participating in focus groups expressed strong interest in helping address homelessness and wanted to know what they could do, with Northwest Side chamber of commerce already employing a housing liaison.
Housing Demand
Between 40,000-70,000 Chicagoans experience homelessness while living doubled up with friends or family each year, representing significant hidden housing instability.
Sentiment
Missing Middle Infill Initiative achieving construction costs of $316,996-$397,000 per unit for three-flat buildings, representing efficient market-rate comparable development versus $450,000-$600,000 for larger multifamily affordable buildings.